Insights Into the World of a Senior Counsel Barrister

Andrew Blundell

In this episode of The Cut, Principal Andrew Blundell is taking over the hot seat to interview Senior Counsel Barrister Farid Assaf.

In this episode of The Cut, Principal Andrew Blundell is taking over the hot seat to interview Senior Counsel Barrister Farid Assaf. Farid is a commercial silk with specialisations in corporate insolvency, cross-border insolvency, company law, directors’ obligations, banking and financial services, corporate regulatory issues, and general commercial litigation.

Farid is frequently acknowledged for his skill in commercial insolvency and advocacy in Best Lawyers, Doyles Guide, and Chambers and Partners. He has a national practise that includes both trial and appellate work.

In the episode we’ll cover how Farid went from being an in-house lawyer at ASIC to an SC, the statutory demand process, the top three cases he has worked on, market downturn within insolvency litigation and the legal areas that Farid sees as emerging on the back of the pandemic.

About Cathro & Partners

Cathro & Partners are experts in providing insolvency and restructuring services that help to create and preserve business value and to enable individuals to make a fresh start. The firm specialises in restructuring, turnaround, personal and corporate insolvency, safe harbour, secured enforcement services, government advisory services and pre-lending services.
For a confidential discussion on any of the above, please reach out to one of our experts.

Insights into Arbitration and Litigation Funding with Matt Lee, LFM Disputes

Litigation finance is reshaping how high-stakes disputes are fought—and who wins. In this episode, Matt Lee from Lindsay Francis Mengen, a specialist in arbitration and former head of Australia’s largest litigation funding operation, shares how litigation funders assess cases, manage risks, and decide whether a claim is worth backing. For

Navigating FY26: Economic Signals, Tax Changes, and Key Considerations for Business

As FY25 comes to a close, it presents an opportunity to reflect on the past 12 months—on earlier forecasts, actual outcomes, and the broader conditions shaping the year ahead. Inflation and labour shortages have remained key challenges across the economy. According to ASIC data, these pressures have had a marked

Insights into Growing a Professional Practice

Building a successful practice demands more than technical skill—it calls for relentless commitment, strategic mindset shifts, and the courage to delegate. In this episode of The Cut, host Andrew Blundell sits down with Nick Hitchens, founder of Hitch Advisory, to trace his rise from managing distressed pub sales to advising